Dear Cathy: I have a poodle and want her to have one litter before she is spayed. I think she went into heat a week ago. One of the neighbor dogs got out and came into our yard to see her. Could they have mated?

Just Wondering

Dear Just Wondering: If your dog is in heat and the neighbor's dog is male and not sterilized, then yes, they likely mated. Male dogs can smell a female dog in heat from about a mile away.

Why do you want her to have one litter before being spayed? I don't sense that you're an expert on dog breeding. If she experiences delivery complications, will you be able to pay the $2,000 it might cost to help her?

It's a myth that dogs and cats need to have one litter before being spayed. In fact, the American Veterinary Medical Association says spaying a female dog or cat before the first heat cycle is actually beneficial. The procedure can improve a pet's health and reduce the risk of certain reproductive cancers and infections.

Both you and your neighbor should have your dogs sterilized.

Dear Cathy: I have five cats. Four are fit, but the fifth cat, Missy Mouth, looks like she swallowed a soccer ball. She is very overweight, even though she is fed just like the other cats. If I measure out her food, why is she so much larger than the other cats?

Ms. Woods

Dear Ms. Woods: It's good that you measure her food because one of the biggest culprits in overweight pets is overfeeding. While exercise and proper food portions play a role in maintaining a pet's overall health, sometimes other undiagnosed health issues can cause weight problems for felines, too. If she is not finishing off everyone's meals or sneaking treats somehow, then she could have a thyroid or metabolic issue.

Take Missy Mouth to her veterinarian.

Dear Cathy: How can I get rid of my dog's bad breath? I have tried over-the-counter treats that say they are supposed to freshen doggie breath, but nothing has worked.

Dillon

Dear Dillon: It's not your dog's breath, but his teeth and gums that smell. Schedule your dog for a professional teeth cleaning with his veterinarian and then learn how to brush his teeth with a toothbrush and special doggie toothpaste afterward.

Good ACS news

San Antonio's Animal Care Services has doubled its live release rates recently. Live release numbers are the percentage of pets entering the shelter that also make it out alive via adoption or rescue group: October's live release rate was 43 percent; November was 52 percent; December was 57 percent and January was almost 64 percent. Things are looking up.